Thursday, June 9, 2016

I feel like I have been going through old-fashioned oats by the bucketful lately. There are much worse things I could be consuming, I suppose ;) Anyhow, this last weekend we headed out to our favorite berry patch to get our first dibs on this season's blueberries. We also got 30 pounds of cherries, which we froze most of, and some dang delicious strawberries. I've had overnight oats pinned for years on my breakfast board and thought it was high time I tried them. They fit in perfectly to my new ways of eating, are filling, and lets be honest-dang delicious. My favorite is fresh fruit in these (enter my previously stated blueberries). I am really excited to try the other 20 varieties I've had pinned! The Mr. also gave this one 2 thumbs way up :)Blueberry Muffin Overnight Oats1/2 c. old-fashioned oats1/2 c. unsweetened almond milk (or milk of choice, or water)1/2 of a medium-large banana, mashed2-3 Tbsp. fresh blueberries1/2 tsp. maple syrup1/4 tsp. lemon zestMix all ingredients up and place in a 1/2 pint mason jar. Cover and place in fridge overnight. Top with extra blueberries in the morning, and breakfast is served!

I have been so happy about my progress over the last 7ish weeks. I followed the 21-Day Fix meal plan fairly closely for a few weeks, and since then I have just been doing my own thing. If anything else, it gave me a better idea on what portions should be and how much of certain food groups I should be eating. My weight loss has slowed, but I am still losing while not counting containers either. I have still been eating many 21-Day fix meals, just not worrying about the container counts. So, during my whole pregnancy I am pretty sure the only thing I ate was sweets. No joke. Cookies for breakfast, pudding cups for snacks, and lets just say I stocked up on Halloween and Christmas candy (yikes). Cutting back on sweets has been hard, so what I've tried to do is find healthy alternatives. Frozen grapes work sometimes, and my Shakeology holds of my morning cravings, but in the afternoon or after dinner I need a little something. Enter energy balls. I have been so happy with these! My kids have been requesting these over cookies, and since they are filled with things like flax, chia, what germ, and small amounts of sugar, I am glad to have these for them for after school snacks or an on-the-go breakfast. Try them. You will like them, especially cold out of the refrigerator. YUM!Here's some benefits to some of the components of these balls: Peanut Butter- Full of protein, fiber and potassium. Gives you an energy boost.Oats- Filling, whole-grain, full of fiber and so much more!Honey- Natural sweetener and full of vitamins.Flax Seed- High in Omega 3, full of antioxidants and vitamins.Chia Seed- Full of Iron, Omega 3, and even more vitamins and minerals.Wheat Germ- Boosts immune system, full of nutrients.Monster Cookie Energy Balls½ cup creamy Peanut Butter⅓ cup honey1 teaspoon vanilla extract1 cup old fashioned oats⅓ cup ground flaxseed1 Tablespoon chia seedsoptional: 2 Tbsp. wheat germ¼ cup mini chocolate chips¼ cup mini M&M's

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Refrigerate for 15-30 minutes then roll into balls. Keep energy bites stored in an air tight container in the fridge or freezer.This recipe can easily be adapted to your preference. M&M's can be omitted and substituted with your favorite nut or dried fruit etc. I usually add shredded coconut instead.

Me

I'm not going to pretend to be a chef....I'm not. I don't come up with any recipes on my own, I may get inspired to switch an ingredient or two every now and then, but that's it! I do love to find new recipes that other people have come up with that are delicious. I started cooking a lot more when I went from being a full-time working woman to a mom and wife of a poor dental student and couldn't afford takeout like I had in the past. Instead of eating boxed meals, I took the initiative and started cooking! This is my place to store the recipes I try, in an organized fashion rather than having recipe cards scattered all over the kitchen. It is also an easy way to share my recipes with those that ask "Can I get that recipe?!" Some are family favorites, others are recipes that caught my eye. My simple family recipe project has turned into a fun little hobby that keeps going and going. In any case, enjoy :)

About Me

Nate and I have been married since December 2005. We have two sweet little boys named Tucker and Grayson and they are a joy! We currently live in Eastern Washington state where we are attempting life in the country. As a family we love to go on walks, do outdoor activities, see new places, attend sporting events, and enjoy all the good things in life!